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‘Money Follows the Person’ project gives people choices

Nebraska’s “Money Follows the Person” demonstration project has been extended through March 31, 2016 by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “We know people who need long-term care prefer to live in their own homes and communities whenever possible, and want them to have choices about where they live and receive services,” said Vivianne Chaumont, director of the Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The Department began the Money Follows the Person (MFP) project in 2008 to help people who want to move from a nursing home or other facility to a community setting like an apartment or family home, with supportive services. “This extension supports our efforts to give people receiving Medicaid opportunities to move out of institutions,” Chaumont said. “Even people who in the past had no choice but to live in an institution can get back in the community and fully participate in the activities most of us take for granted.” Since 2008, Nebraska’s Money Follows the Person project has: • Provided outreach and education to 922 nursing facility residents and reached over 3,780 family, friends, nursing facility staff, and community organizations. • Transitioned 113 aged, physically disabled, developmentally disabled, and individuals with traumatic brain injury residing in nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities, and hospitals to qualified community settings. • Worked with 86 additional individuals who transitioned out of institutions to community settings that did not meet MFP community residence requirements. To qualify for Nebraska’s Money Follows the Person project, a person must currently be receiving Medicaid services; have resided in a nursing home or intermediate care facility for at least 90 days prior to moving from the facility; must move into a qualified home, apartment, family home or adult family home; and must qualify for either the Aged and Disabled or Developmental Disabilities waiver services. These waivers provide on-going support and assistance so qualified individuals can safety return to or remain in a community setting. Additional information can be found at http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/MoneyFollowsThePerson/.